Many people forget that youthful appearance is not only judged upon the conditions of the face, neck and chest, but also on the condition of the hands.
Our hands do just about everything and since they are exposed to multiple outside factors, it results in visible signs of ageing more so than other areas of our body.
These signs include age or sun spots, thinning skin, enlarged veins and a bony appearance. Most of us ignore our hands and do not include them in our daily skin care regimen and thus they often give away our age, before our faces do.
With the advent of various safe, effective rejuvenation treatments, anyone can be a candidate for anti-ageing techniques for hands. Depending on whether a patient has only photo-ageing – sun damage of the skin with lax skin or if there is some volume loss of the back of the hands, some professionals would usually start with collagen stimulatory devices early so as to prevent further deterioration of skin texture and laxity.
This can be started as early as those in their 30’s, as prevention or when the ageing process has already taken hold, later in life.
There are several options to achieve a younger, softer looking hand, and treatments are tailored to each patients needs. Dermal fillers instantly refresh old looking hands with enlarged veins and a bony appearance. They add volume and plump up the skin on the back of our hands, giving them a softer, more youthful appearance.
The hyaluronic acid present in the Juvederm attracts water and rehydrates the skin for a period of 18 to 24 months. An added benefit is that new collagen formation is promoted for more long term beneficial effects. It takes approximately 30 minute to perform and the application of a local anaesthetic makes the treatment comfortable. It is however, important as with all such treatments, that the doctor performing this procedure has been properly trained for this.
Pigmentation, often referred to as sun spots, are easily treated with a medical grade laser. By treating the sun damage and lifting the pigmentation, the skin gets an even, clearer appearance. At the same time, collagen and elastin are stimulated, resulting in a smoother surface. These results are long lasting as long as the patient is committed to protecting the treated areas with a proper sunscreen which fully blocks the causes of photo-ageing.
Our hands are constantly in use, but no longer have to show our age. For further information, contact Dr Julie Sinclair on 011 453-3450 or visit www.sinclairaesthetics.co.za
